Tobacco-cutter.



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TOBACCO CUTTER, APPLICATION FILED 00T.15. 1904.

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10.846,734. PATENTEDMAR-12, 1907.

N.D U BRUL.

TOBACCO CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 15. 1904.

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110.846.734. PATENTED MAR. l2, 1907. N. DU'BRUL.

TOBACCO GUTTER.

APPLIOATION FILED coma, 1904.

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PATBNTED MAR. 12, 1907.

N. DU BRUL.

TOBACCO GUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.15. 1904.

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TINTTED STATES PATEN T OEETE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed October 145.1904. Serial No. 228,543.

To all whom, t 11o/tty concern.'

Be it known that I, NAPOLEON DU BRUL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton, State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements m Tobacco-Cutters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for cutting tobacco,and consists of certain novel features of construction, hereinafterfully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, theembodiment of which in a machine of this type Ybrings the machine to ahigher state of perfection with respect to its cutting capacity, thefineness of cut, the facility for adjusting` the machine whereby thefineness of its cut is changed at will, the uniformity of the productwhatever degree of lineness selected, and the steadiness of operationand simplicity of construction, whereby the durability of the machine aswell as its uniformity of product is increased.

My invention will be fully understood upon reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in whichgi., Figure 1 is a side elevation of the completemachine, excepting a portion of the feedtrough, which is broken away.Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionfrom front to rear through the feed-rolls and contiguous parts of themachine. Fig. /1 is a rear view of the cutter member with blade removed.Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show, respectively, side views of the two links and a,plan view of the fulcrumyoke which connects the weighted lever with theupper movable series of feed-rolls. Figs. 8 and 9 are top views of thelinks which guide the upper end of the cutting member. Fig. 10 is afront view of the two sides of the main frame of the machine. Figs. 11and 12 are front views of the two stripper-supporting' plates. Figs. 13and 14 are a front and an end view of one of the strippers.

As a very low rate of motion must be imparted to the feed-rolls oftobacco-cutting machines, varying according to size of cut desired, andas this motion is usually transmitted through speed-reducing mechanismi0 from the crank-shaft, which usually revolves at a high rate of speed,it is of the utmost importance to have this gearing of the most simpleand yet powerful nature. In some machines of this type the feed motionto the 5 rollsis imparted by paWl-and-ratchet mechanism. The obviousobjection to this method is the uncertainty of the width of cut tobaccoproduced, due to the rolls slipping over the tobacco-block being fedforward in consequence of the inertia of the tobacco and its friction inthe trough having to be overcome at every cut. Moreover, the machine issubjected to successive shocks at every recurrence of the stroke, whichimpairs the stability of the machine and necessitates reduction ofspeed. In other machines the feed is driven by means of work andwork-gears which are recognized consumers of power and require acomplicated and extensive system of bevel-gearing to connect to thefeedrolls and change-gears for varying the cut which are difficult ofapplication.

In this machine constant power is transmitted from the shaft directlyand continuously to the feed-rolls through a train of simple reducingspur-gears embodying a changepinion.

On one end of the driving or crank shaft 18 is shown a balance-wheel 20and tight and loose pulleys 19, a shifter 21 22 23 being employed formoving the driving-belt across their faces.

Instead of having the crank-shaft 18 mounted upon the upper part of themachine, with consequent loss of stability and pushing the knife to itswork with consequent chattering of the cutting edge, I locate the shaftlow upon the machine that I am enabled to attain higher speed withoutshocks and vibration and so connect the knife that it is pulled to itswork from a point sufliciently remote to effectually overcome chatteringtendency and render insignificant the effect of the curve in that pathof the crank-pins travel which imparts the cut and leave ample room forthe simple and direct train of spurgears through which a constant andcontinuous drive is imparted to the feed, which will now be described.

The end of the crank-shaft 18 opposite the pulley 19 is constructed toreceive any of a plurality of interchangeable drive or leader pinions17, varying in size according to the iineness of tobacco to be cut.Pinion 17 engages with the large wheel of a lower or intermediatereducing-gear 16, adjustably fastened to the frame by a meanshereinafter described and readily brought to mesh with any change-gear17 that may be fitted to the end of the crank-shaft. The small pinion ofIOO enable a more ready adjustment of the lower The tie-rod extendsthrough slots 40 in opposite sides of the frame (one only being shown)and one end is threaded for the attachment of a nut 41, which locks thearm 37 in any def sired position.

The lower half ofy knife-holder 32 is conreducing-gear to change thegear the lower reducing-gear may be journaled on a stud carried by anarm 16, swinging on a turned portion of the hub of the upperreducing-gear and adjustably attached to the frame by a bolt 16C,passing through the middle slotted portion 16h. f

Tobacco in suitable condition is supplied to a feed-trough 1, comprisingrearward side extensions of the frame, whence it passes to thefeed-rolls (shown best in Fig. 3) comprising a lower series of fixedrolls 2 and an upper series of rolls 3, mounted in vertically movable orswinging side frames 4, fulcrumed on pins 5. The foremost rolls in therespective upper and lower series have strippers 6 7, which direct thetobacco in compressed form outward, the upper stripper being supportedby the stripperlate 8, secured at its ends to the movable side plates 4,and the lower stripper beinOV supported by the stripperplate 9, whichalso carries a shear-plate 10 for cooperation with the cutter. The upperrolls are geared together by idlers 11 and the lower rolls by pinion 12and idler 122L in a manner to cause the rolls in each series to rotatewith their opposed faces moving in the same relative (forward)direction, the two series being geared together by an idler 13 upon oneof the pins 5, on which the side frames 4 are fulcrumed.

25 represents a weighted arm connected at one end to the center of ayoke 26 and forming therewith a biilurcated lever, which is fulcrumed at27 on the frame of the machine and connected at 28 with two links 29 and30, which extend upward to and are connected at 31 with the forward freeends of the swinging side frames 4, whereby the weighted lever exertsthrough the upper rolls a pressure upon the tobacco being fed throughthe machine.

33 indicates the knife for shaving the tobacco from the compressed cakethat is fed forward by the feed-rolls. This knife is fastened by clamps34 to the holder 32, which is connected at its upper part to the ends oftwo vibrating links 35, fulcrumed at 36 on the upper parts of movablearms 37, adjustably secured to the frames by pivots 38.

The adjustment of the arms 37, and. consequently the knife 33, to andfrom the shearlate 10 is accomplished by means of the hand-nut 43,confined between lugs 44 on the frame, the operation of the nut causingan eyebolt 42, connected to a rod 39, that ties ymounted at an anglenected to the crank-pin of crank-shaft 18. The positions, arrangement,and relations of the knife-holder 32, the links 35, and crankshaft 18are such that as the crankrotates in the direction of the arrow theknife will descend in a substantially straight line across the mouth ofthe trough, the links controlling the head of the knife-holder 32operating in a reverse are to that of the cutting portion of the strokeof the crank 46, which carries the lower part 45 of knife-holder 32. Asthe crank movement continues' this compensating relation is overcome andthe knife 33 moves outwardly from the shear-plate. 10 to a pathdescribed for the remainder of the stroke and until it resumes theabove-described relation to the mouth at beginning of the nextcutting-stroke. The path described is approximately of a semi-ellipticalorbit, so that contact between the knife and the protruding tobaccoavoided after the completion of the cutting-stroke.

lt is obvious that if in continuous-feed machines the knife is disposedin close vertical parallel to the cut face of tobacco-cake therev willbe obstruction of the tobacco due to its working out against the faceofthe knife. This is easily overcome by giving the cutting-knife 33a'slight outward inclination, thereby allowing freedom for the tobaccoto protrude above the cutting edge of knife.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as my invention is# 1.A continuous-feed reciprocating -tobacco-cutter comprisingcontinuously-revolving feed-rolls, a mouth to which tobacco is deliveredby said rolls to be cut, a knife to the plane of said. mouth, movingdownward in suitable relation to cut tobacco protruding therefrom andmounted to rock upon an axis in a horizontall plane passing through theknife, a crankshaft suitably mounted upon the lower portion of themachine bene ath the knife parallel to the rocking axis of the knife,and a connection between the crank of said shaft and the knife, forimparting the downward cutting movement to the knife during the downwardrotation of the crank, an outward rocking mouth. and an upward movementto said bladev during the upward movement of the crank.

2. In a continuous-feed reciprocating tobacco-cutter, the combination ofupper and lower feed-rolls, a cutting-mouth to which IOO movement toremove the blade from the the tobacco to be cut is fed by said rolls, aknife reciprocating in cutting relation to said mouth during itsdownward stroke and held at an angle to the plane of the mouth duringits cut, means whereby said knife is mounted to rock upon an axis in ahorizontal plane passing through the knife whereby it may rock to bringits cutting edge away from the mouth during its upper movement, aconnection rigid with the knife in the direction of its rockingmovement, extending downwardly to the lower portion of the machine, acrank-shaft upon which said connection has bearing, imparting the-downward movement to the knife-blade and holding said blade in cuttingrelation to the mouth during the downward movement of the crank androcking the blade outward from the mouth and moving it upward during theupward movement of the crank, and a direct train of reducing spur-gearsextending from the crank-shaft to and in driving relation with thefeed-rolls and imparting continuous rotation thereto in definiterelation to the cutting-stroke of the knife.

3. The combination with the frame and the continuous-feeding mechanismmounted thereon, of a knife-holder, a crank-shaft in driving relationwith one end of the knifeholder, a pair of vibratory links eachconnected to the other end of the knife-holder, a pair of adjustablelevers upon which the vibratory links swing, a transverse tie-rod forconnecting the adjustable levers, a threaded eyebolt for setting theadjustable levers and a nut for locking the adjustable levers in anydesired position.

1I. The combination with the cranked drive-shaft, of the feed mechanism,reducinggearing connecting the cranked drive-shaft and the feedmechanism, constructed to cause the continuous operation of the feedingmechanism, and a knife-holder connected at one end to the crank-shaftand at its other end moving in an eccentric orbit.

5. The combination with the drive-shaft, of a feeding mechanism,reducing-gear connecting the drive-shaft and the feed mechanism,constructed to cause the continuous operation of the feed mechanism, areciprocating knife and means for causing it to oscillate about an axisin fa horizontal plane intersecting the knife, while it is reciprocatedby the crank-shaft.

6. The combination with the continuousfeeding mechanism, of aknife-holder, vibratory links connected to said knife-holder pivotedmeans for shifting the fulcrums of the vibratory links, and means forcausing the other end of the knife-holder to travel in a circular path.

7. The combination with the continuousfeeding mechanism, of aknife-holder, vibratory links connected to one end of the knifeholder,pivoted means for shifting the fulcrums of the vibratory links and acrankshaft connected to the other end of the knifeholder.

8. The combination with the continuousfeeding mechanism, of a knife, aknife-holder, vibratory links connected to one end of the knife-holderin a horizontal plane cutting the knife means for shifting the fulcrumsof the vibratory links, and means for causing the other end of theknife-holder to travel in'a circular path.

9. The combination with the continuousfeeding mechanism, of aknife-holder, a pair of adjustable levers, a pair of vibratory linkseach connected at one end to an adjustable lever and at its other end tothe knife-holder near one end, and a crank-shaft connected to theknife-holder near the other end.

10. The combination with the continuous- .feeding mechanism, of a knife,.a knifeholder, vibratory links connected to one end of the knife-holderin a horizontal plane intersecting the knife, means for shifting thefulcrums of the vibratory links, and a crankshaft connected to the otherend of the knife-holder.

1l. In a machine for cutting tobacco, the combination with thedrive-shaft carrying a gear, of feeding-rolls, a second shaft parallelto the first for operating the feeding-rolls, a gear carried thereby aswinging arm journaled on said second shaft, and a reducinggear carriedby the swinging end of the arm and geared to the drive-shaft and thefeedroll-operating shaft.

l2. In a machine for cutting tobacco, the combination with thedrive-shaft, carrying a gear, of feeding-rolls, a shaft for operatingthe feeding-rolls, a gear carried thereby, a swinging arm journaled onsaid shaft, and a reducing-gear carried by the swinging end of the armand geared to the drive-shaft and the feed-roll-operating shaft, and apitmandriven knife operated continuously from the drive-shaft.

13. In a machine for cutting tobacco the combination with thefeeding-rolls, of a cranked drive-shaft, a reducing-gearing between thefeeding-rolls and the cranked drive-shaft constructed to continuouslyoperate the rolls, a knife-holder connected at one end to the crankeddrive-shaft, and means for causing the other end of the knife-holder totravel in an arcuate path.

14. In a machinefor cutting tobacco having continuously-rotatingfeed-rolls, the tobacco-feeding rolls, a drive-shaft a reciprocatingcutter operated through an arcuate path by the drive-shaft, a pinionsecured to drive-shaft, an intermediate reducing-gear driven by saidpinion, a reducing-gear leading tofeed-rolls driven by the intermediatereducing-gear.

l5. In a machine for cutting tobacco having continuously-rotatingfeed-rolls, the to- IOC IIO

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basco-feeding rolls, a drive-shaft, a pinion l tory levers and thecrankshaft being such ro secured to drive-shaft, an intermediate reithat the knife moves in an eccentric path.

ducing-gear driven by said pinion, a reducing- The foregoing specicationsigned this gear leading to feed-rolls driven by the inter- 12th day ofSeptember, 1904.

mediate reducingear .vibratory levers connected to the rriie and aknife-holder piv- NAPOLEON DU BRUL' oted at one end to the vibratorylinks and at In presence O15- the other end connected to thecrank-shaft, F. BROERMAN,y

the coperating relation between the vibra- E. H. FISHER.

